Engine making ticking noise for some time now...

[bgtaylor]

My 85 z28 has made this ticking noise for as long as I have owned the car. It progressively gets faster as the engine's rpm increases. It sounds like it is coming from the left side of the engine, while looking directly at the front of the car. My father was stumped by the ticking, and I do not have near enough expertise to properly diagnose the problem compared the people on this website so I thought I would ask if anyone could explain to me what could be making this tick. A guy at Autozone came on out and said is sounded like a bad lifter, I didn't ask he was just curious I guess. But like I said I'm no expert either. The information I'm looking for is; if this is in fact a lifter issue, I could use a little guidance in being told how to replace the faulty lifter/lifters and how to do so. And where to purchase said lifter. And are there different types of lifters?

Thanks for the help guys, I appreciate it.

Brian.

[Dirty T/A]

Does this ticking quiet down a bit, after the car warms up? Is it louder when the car first starts than it is after its run a while, or is the ticking noise pretty consistent in noise level regardless?

[s.reef]

Make sure it's not an exhaust leak

[Boost Addict]

^ Like he said. Check the exhaust manifold gasket or to see if any bolts are loose/missing

[98blackbeauty]

Take off valve covers, turn engine over by hand, pull distributer cap off to tell cylinder fire time. At top dead fire time for each cyl. I would first check to see if one of the valve rockers has excessive play or all the same.

[chattersonm]

this just happened to me apperently the camshaft is broken on my car, it was running fine just ticking.

[bgtaylor]

Well I havent really dove into the issue at hand because I have a decision to make. Either keep my car and get a new trans, (the old one is still working but slips from 2nd to 3rd a bit and likes to dump out a puddle of trans fluid every once in a while), it has an oil leak, ( I believe the front seal), I would like to get it painted, (which I can get done for just the cost of materials), and buy headers and have a Y pipe made to fit them. It seems all these little issues are causing me to want to just walk away and buy a 93-02 trans am or camaro. But then again, a new car comes with new issues. Oh ya and my suspension squeeks like a crazy after a little drive. I know its an 85 but it drives me nuts when I turn the music down. Hoping that will be a simple fix too. Any advice with any of these problems??

[2002Z4CSS]

Sounds like a possible loose rocker arn nut.